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Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ7

Portability
59
Imaging
37
Features
73
Overall
51
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
41
Overall
38

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ7 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ300
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/16000s Maximum Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8) lens
  • 691g - 132 x 92 x 117mm
  • Revealed July 2015
  • Superseded the Panasonic FZ200
Panasonic SZ7
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ7 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ7, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are sold by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the FZ300 (12MP) and the SZ7 (14MP) is pretty well matched and they feature the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The FZ300 was manufactured 3 years later than the SZ7 and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FZ300 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic SZ7 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the FZ300 matches up vs the SZ7 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ300 over the Panasonic SZ7

 FZ300 SZ7 
RevealedJuly 2015January 2012More recent by 43 months
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1040k460kClearer screen (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ7 over the Panasonic FZ300

 SZ7 FZ300 

Common features in the Panasonic FZ300 and Panasonic SZ7

 FZ300 SZ7 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ7 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FZ300 offers outside measurements of 132mm x 92mm x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") accompanied by a weight of 691 grams (1.52 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ7 has measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs).

See the Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ7 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is the front view scale comparison of the FZ300 vs the SZ7.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ7 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FZ300 and SZ7 is 59 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ7 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to imagine the difference between sensor measurements just by looking at technical specs. The graphic underneath may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the FZ300 and SZ7.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You should expect the Panasonic SZ7 to resolve greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The fresher FZ300 should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic SZ7 Portrait photography factors
46
focusing manually
features face detect focus
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
33
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FZ300
Street photography with Panasonic SZ7
59
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
boasts touch to focus
weather proofing
small sensor size (1/2.3")
heavier than average (691g)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (133g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Sports photography camera
51
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
high shutter speed (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features tracking focus
weather proofing
better than average battery power (380 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
43
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Travel photography camera
59
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
weather proofing
boasts touch to focus
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
heavier than average (691g)
resolution not great (12MP)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
70
lighter than competition in class (133 grams)
MP count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 Landscape photography information
Panasonic SZ7 Landscape photography information
52
focusing manually
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
better than average battery power (380 shots)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
42
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ300 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ7 as a Vlogging camera
62
fairly wide (25mm)
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes mic port
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
heavier than average (691 grams)
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (133g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic port
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Panasonic FZ300 vs Panasonic SZ7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ300 and Panasonic SZ7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2015-07-16 2012-01-09
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 49 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/16000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.80 m (at Auto ISO) 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 691g (1.52 lb) 133g (0.29 lb)
Dimensions 132 x 92 x 117mm (5.2" x 3.6" x 4.6") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 photos 220 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $598 $199